Around the Word in 365 Days

By Linda Sommer

Let All Things Be Done to Edify

1 Corinthians 14:18-40 As Paul was giving instructions to the church about how their services were to be conducted, he exhorted the church to let everything be done to edify. How different our lives would be if the motivation of our relationships with others was always to edify them—to build up one another in love. Our conversations would be seasoned with grace, and we would never be condescending, judgmental or critical in our words to others. We would esteem one another higher than ourselves, and we would ever be on the alert to serve and support one another in love.

I try to ask myself the following questions before I say anything:

1. Will what I have to say build up or tear down?

2. Will what I have to say add or subtract from the kingdom of God, which is righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit?

3. Will what I have to say bless or burden the person I am talking to?

4. Is what I say pure, lovely, virtuous and of good report?

If we all stopped to ask ourselves these questions before we speak, we would be men and women of few words. We would also be blessed men and women because we would be a blessing to others. We would save ourselves from many troubles if we spoke only those things that edify. Proverbs 21:23 says, "Whoever guards his mouth and tongue keeps his soul from troubles."

Join me as I pray for the Lord to let the law of kindness always be upon my lips.

Lord, I have blown it so many times by saying things that were unwise. I humbly ask for Your forgiveness, and now I ask for Your supernatural ability, Your grace, to season my tongue with kindness and enable me to speak only those things that edify. Thank You.